The graphic shows the schematic image of Chinese space station. (Xinhua/Lu Zhe)

JIUQUAN, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- China will launch the Shenzhou-8 spacecraft in early November at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.

The spacecraft is expected to perform China`s first space docking with Tiangong-1, or Heavenly Palace-1, a space lab module that was launched in September from the same launch center.

The Shenzhou-8 spacecraft and the carrier rocket, Long March-2F, are being vertically transferred to the launch pad at the center, marking the countdown of the blasting off of the unmanned spacecraft.

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China to test first space docking within two days after launching Shenzhou-8

JIUQUAN, Gansu Province, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- China will conduct its first space docking test within two days after launching the Shenzhou-8 unmanned spacecraft, a spokesperson with China`s manned space program said Wednesday.

China is preparing to launch the Tiangong-1 on Thursday evening as an unmanned space module awaiting space dockings with the Shenzhou-8, -9 and -10 spacecrafts one after another in the next two years. Full story

China`s first space docking to go on as planned: official

JIUQUAN, Gansu, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- China`s first space docking will go on as planned despite the rescheduled launch of the unmanned space module Tiangong-1 following a satellite launching failure last month, according to a space program commander.

The experimental space station will conduct the country`s first-ever space docking with the Shenzhou-8 spacecraft, which is scheduled to be launched in November, said Niu Hongguang, deputy commander-in-chief of the country`s manned space program.